Concentrate entraining injector and mixer



April 14, 1959 v. TAVERNESE ET AL 2,

CONCENTRATE ENTRAINING INJECTOR AND MIXER Filed Dec. 14. 1955 2 l 3 Ah m 2 INVENTORS vVINCENT T4 VERNESE ARTHUR/7. DEATR/CK ATTOR NE Y United States Patent Vincent'Tavemese and Arthur H. Deatrick, Miami, Fla.;

said Tavernese as'signor to Richard D. Adams, Broward County, Fla.

Application December 14, 1955, Serial No. 553,113

4 Claims. (Cl. 137-4055) This invention relates to injector-apparatus and more especially to devices and systems in which quantities of material are added from a source of supply to a carrier liquid.

An object of the present invention 18 the PI'OVlSlOIl of a simple, practical and reliable injection device which may readily'be attached to a carrier liquid outlet, and which device under conditions of use supplies a material such as a fertilizer, insecticide, fungicide, herbicide, soil conditioner, disinfectant, soap, detergent or the like, to the carrier liquid while the latter is advancing under pressure.

Another object is that of providing an injector device which has the highly valuable property of holdlng in reserve against immediately being injected a substant1al amount of injecting liquid containing the m ectlng material.

A further object is the provision of an injectondevice of the character described by which small quantities of the injecting liquid continuously exceeding reserve supply arev promptly and continuously taken off and in ected into the carrier liquid and in which take-01f 1S achleved while the reserve supply is assuredly withheld to prevent rapid depletion. i

A further object is the provision of an in ector dev ce of the character described which prevents rapid dllutlon of the injecting concentrate reserved.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an injector device of the character described in which a minor quantity of the carrier liquid itself is bled 1n and dispersed, gradually to replace removed excesses of the reserve liquid.

Another object of the present invention is the pro-' vision of an injector of the'character described in which a localized increase in the velocity head of carrier liquid and an accompanying partial vacuum are achieved, enhancing take-off of injecting liquid and isolating the reserve supply against receiving carrier liquid through the injecting liquid take-01f passage even where considerably varied quantities. of the carrier liquid are being served by the injector during use.

A still further object of the invention is that prov ding a. concentrate entraining system which readily achieves pressure output discharge of carrier liquid through a nozzle or the like from suitable pressure supply, which 18 characterized by continuously working into the carrier liquid a longenduring reserve of injecting substance, and

in which the reserve supply of injecting substance is well protected against rapid dilution even under such circumstances as temporary surges occurring in the carrier Other objects of the invention in part will be obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly resides in the combination of elements, apparatus, and features of structure and in others as described herein, the scope. of the application of which is indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing representing a preferred embodiment of the present invention:

Figure l somewhat schematically represents a concencrate entraining system including an injector device, the injector device being in vertical transverse section;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken through the injector device in Figure l; and

Figure 3 is an extension of Figure 1, representing a variable output nozzle at the output end of the system.

As conductive to a clearer understanding of'certain features of the present invention, it may be noted at this point that injector devices and systems in general are characterized by affording from supply a substance which is desired for delivery into a carrier liquid. The carrier liquid accordingly is modified by the presence of the material injected and serves to convey the material in solution or otherwise in dispersed form to a point of discharge. Among present day demands for injector apparatus are those which relate to the dispensing of fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, soil conditioners, disinfectants, soaps, detergents, or any of a variety of other such agents from long-enduring injecting supply. The spraying of liquid fertilizers in a water carrier on lawns and gardens for example is gaining recognition, but an impediment in the Way of the home gardener adopting this practice has been the problem of having available satisfactory apparatus which can be charged with the material which is to undergo distribution. In a great number of the injector devices, and systems including injectors, the supply of injecting material is prone to suffer quite rapid depletion and accordingly require frequent shut-down of operations so that the supply can be replenished. The inconvenience and time loss encountered in this regard have been quite objectionable and thus for relatively large scale endeavors or otherwise where enduring supply has been a consideration the use of injector apparatus has been sharply curtailed.

An outstanding object of the present invention accordingly is the provision of a simple and practical injector device which upon being charged with an ample quantity of material to be dispersed is highly successfully and amfactorily operated oif household water supply, continuously delivering to the water over long periods of sustained use quantities of the material in the charge, and which is well suited for use under conditions Where the water and the injected material are thence fed through a hose, the injector tolerating control over the hose by a variable output nozzle and complete cut-01f at the nozzle.

Thus, in general the invention resides in injector devices and systems including injector devices. The device supplies liquid or semi-liquid material to a carrier liquid, the latter being derived from an outlet giving pressure flow and the carrier'liquid for example being water. The injector is allied with a conduit through which the carrier liquid is made to pass from supply under pressure and the injector has its functions sustained by the carrier liquid itself. 7

Referring now to the drawing, an injector device 10 is provided which includes an hermetically closed or air tight substantially cylindrical receptacle 11 for containing a supply of injecting material. The receptacle bottom 12 is supported on legs 15, and interconnecting the bottom 12 and top 16 of the receptacle is a verticalsub- -stantially cylindrical sidewall 14. Top 16 includes a Y the relation of each of the same to one or more ofv the;

closure element in the form of a screw cap 13. An inside thread on the cap engages a corresponding thread on the outside face of neck 17 of the receptacle. A sealing ring 18 issituated between the base of neck 17 and the-edge 3 of the skirt of cap 13, serving to sustain air-tightness inside the receptacle when the cap is properly seated.

Passing through the receptacle 11 is a carrier liquid conduit 19 which outside has input and output ends 26 and 27, respectively. Conduit 19 is substantially L- shaped, having a vertical portion 191: extending through top 16 somewhat aside to cap 13, thence downward inside the receptacle along sidewall 14 and spaced a short distance in from the latter. The lower end of vertical portion 19a merges into a horizontal portion 19b of the carrier liquid conduit which is spaced upward a short distance from the receptacle bottom 12 and passes outward through sidewall 14. Horizontal portion 19b of the carrier liquid conduit has a bleed port 24 such as of pinhole size or considerably larger size directly communicating with the receptacle interior and preferably is pointed directly toward the cylindrical sidewall 14 or toward other efiective baflie means for the orifice output. Orifice 24 advantageously is in a horizontal output end of an L-shaped bleed extension 24a of conduit portion 19b. The output end of the bleed extension is directed toward the cylindrical sidewall 14 of the receptacle which accordingly acts as a deflector for the bleed fiuid as it is mixed with the receptacle contents. To further advantage, the output end of the bleed extension is adjacent to the receptacle bottom 12 so that the bleed fluid will sweep and aid in dissolving any fertilizer solids on the bottom. Somewhat beyond the bleed port in the direction approaching output end 27, the carrier liquid conduit 13 has a constriction 31, such as a venturi, for converting pressure head of the carrier liquid to velocity head. An injecting fluid outlet line, which in the present embodiment is the vertical standpipe 20, is connected at its discharge end to the carrier liquid conduit 19, having an outlet 25 into this conduit at a point where the constriction 31 is effective for producing decrease in normal pressure head of the carrier liquid. Standpipe 20 extends well up toward the recep tacle top 16 and at the upper end has an inlet opening 21. Between inlet opening 21 and outlet opening 25, the standpipe has a one-way check valve, this for example including ball 22 inside the pipe just under a tapered seat 22a converging toward the inlet 21, the ball being over a suitable stop such as pin 23 bridging the pipe. The effective valve opening in the standpipe preferably is larger than the effective opening of bleed orifice 24 so that output of the injector proceeds accordingly.

An outlet for the carrier liquid from pressure source of supply is represented by conduit 34 controlled by manual valve 35. For example, the outlet is for city water. In such instances as the latter, the input end of the carrier liquid conduit 19 is extended to include a vacuum breaker 32 and a vertical pipe 32a leading from the breaker to the injector to arrest possible back-syphoning of deleterious materials into the supply main. A one-way check valve 30 at the carrier liquid input end of the injector 10 also is of value for preventing back-syphoning. It will be understood that both the valve 30 and vacuum breaker 32 may be used or omitted, or substituted one for the other, depending upon circumstances of use of the injector 10.

The output end 27 of the carrier liquid conduit 19 supports an internally threaded fitting 28 connected to the corresponding end of an injected liquid take-ofi conduit 29, such as a rubber garden hose, leading, as further represented in Figure 3, to a variable output spray nozzle 37 having threaded coupling at 37a to the injected carrier liquid conduit.

The operation of the injector device 10 and system including the injector described will be set forth illustratively with reference to the application of water soluble fertilizer to a home lawn using city water supply as the source of carrier liquid. A charge of fertilizer concentrate, as for example a pre-formed concentrated aqueous solution of powdered soluble fertilizer, or of water and still solid water soluble fertilizer, is introduced into the receptacle after removing the receptacle lid 13. The

charge is made in quantity sufiicient to produce a liquid concentrate level in the receptacle which preferably is in the immediate vicinity of the inlet port 21 of standpipe 20. The lid 13 then is tightly closed, and the city water supply valve 35 is opened admitting water through vacuum breaker 32, pipe 32a and one-way check valve 30 to conduit 19. The water enters hose-line 29 and in the event that nozzle 37 is closed no water escapes from the closed system. However, water enters standpipe 20 and the pressure of the [liquid drives ball 22 to its seat 22a, closing port 21, against surges which may occur in the system during filling, thus effectively preventing tidal effects and unnecessary dilution of the concentrate. Meanwhile, main line pressure develops in the carrier liquid conduit at bleed orifice 24 and small quantities of water escape through this orifice into the receptacle, mingling thoroughly with the liquid concentrate and solids which may remain present. By bleeding the carrier liquid low into the bottom of the standing column of concentrate better mingling is had, and by having the output end of the bleed extension 24a directed substantially horizontally toward the cylindrical sidewall 14, a rotating flow is achieved beneath the surface of the liquid in the receptacle thus thoroughly mixing the contents. Further, by having the horizontally directed output end of the bleed extension adjacent to the receptacle bottom a horizontal sweeping action is produced on the bottom so as to agitate fertilizer solids which may be present on the bottom and thus the pure water bled in can immediately dissolve fertilizer. The level of the liquid column gradually rises with continued bleed-in of the carrier liquid until equalization of pressure is achieved across bleed-in orifice 24 by compression of air in the space above the column, at which point bleed-in is arrested. The heighth of standpipe inlet 21 preferably is just slightly lower in the receptacle 10 than this level of stabilization.

When hose nozzle 37 is opened, the discharge of water from the outlet 34 begins, and in this discharge, water is delivered through carrier liquid conduit 19, principally avoiding bleed orifice 24 and passing with locally increased velocity through constriction 31 and thence into hose 29 and out the nozzle. By virtue of the constriction 31 and the increased velocity head attained at that position, there is a drop in pressure head which enables ball 22 to unseat and quantities of injecting liquid to drain off from the standing column of concentrate reserved in the receptacle 10. The injecting liquid drained off is entrained in the carrier liquid at port 25 and passes on with this liquid through the nozzle 37, giving a watering and fertilizing spray to the lawn being treated. Since pressure conditions in the receptacle are relieved, the bleed orifice 24 effectively admits further amounts of water serving to replace the concentrate which is being passed off through port 21 for entrainment.

It will be observedthat the effective output opening of the variable output nozzle 37 may be altered to many possible discharge settings and that the quantities of liquid thus passing through the nozzle have injected liquid entrained. Whether water is passing from end to end of the carrier liquid conduit 19 in large quantities or in relatively small quantities, the standpipe 20 still delivers injecting liquid, and the constriction 31 very effectively afiords the necessary pressure head drop for this to occur without back flow of carrier liquid in the pipe 20 to the reserve supply of injecting liquid. Of still further consequence, if drop in pressure occurs behind outlet 34, back-syphoning is arrested by the syphon breaker 32 or one-way check valve 30, either alone or together.

A sudden closing of the nozzle 37 to achieve a setting for decreased output, and the shock and surges in the system coincident with this, are tolerated by the injector. Any back pressure on the one-way check valve ball 22, causes the ball to seat and thus close the receptacle against dilution of the injecting liquid by the surges. Still further, in the event that the discharge nozzle 37 is completely-closed to terminate spraying, such'as for a short period of time, the carrier liquid in the system becomes static and the existing pressure conditions instantly cause the valve ball 22 to seat. A small amount of water continues to enterv the receptacle through bleed inlet 24 for a short time, but after a limited rise in the level of the standing column of injecting liquid, a static balance is reached across the orifice 24 and bleed-in accordingly ceases. By disposing the standpipe inlet 21 at a height in the receptacle which is slightly under the level attained by the standing column when pressures become equal across the orifice 24, unnecessary dilution is prevented, and yet immediate output operation of the injector is assured when spraying is resumed at nozzle 37.

The standing column of injecting liquid in the receptacle represents a large reserve below the level of the standpipe port 21, which reserve cannot be drawn off through the port until the column has been subjected to very mild dilution by water bled in through port 24, the bleed in increasing the volume sufliciently for the concentrate to rise and escape through port 21. Eventually, after a long period of time, of course, the receptacle should receive a further charge of fertilizer supply. This is achieved by shutting off valve 35 and removing the receptacle lid 13. Granular fertilizer of course can be added to the liquid already in the receptacle, or by way of further example, drain-off valve 36 at the bottom 12 of the vessel may be opened long enough for the weak liquid to drain-off, after which the valve is closed and a pre-formed solution of fertilizer is poured in in replacement.

Thus, it will be seen that in this invention, there is provided an injector, and carrier liquid system including an injector, in which the various objects hereinbefore noted together with many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. It will be seen that the apparatus well serves to inject any of a variety of substances into the carrier liquid, and that during the injection a concentrated supply of injecting liquid is conserved and well protected against unnecessary dilution throughout a long period of use of the apparatus.

As many possible embodiments of the invention may be made and as many possible changes may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore set forth, it will be distinctly understood that all matter described herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not as a limitation.

We claim: I

1. An injector for dispensing liquid fertilizer, insecticide, herbicide or other injecting liquid into a carrier liquid, comprising a receptacle for a reserved standing column of injecting liquid, a carrier liquid pipe extending through said receptacle, said pipe including a substantially vertical input portion extending above said receptacle for receiving the carrier liquid from supply, an injecting fluid inlet and a bleed outlet inside said receptacle, and a constriction for locally increasing the velocity head of the carrier liquid and decreasing the pressure head thereof at said injecting fluid inlet thus promoting flow of injecting liquid from said standing column through said inlet into said carrier liquid, said bleed outlet emptying into said receptacle for bleeding quantities of liquid into the reserved standing column of injecting liquid in replacement of those quantities of injecting liquid drawn OE and entrained, and a vacuum breaker, responsive to pressure drop, above said receptacle and connected with the substantially vertical input portion of said carrier liquid pipe behind said bleed outlet and the injecting fluid inlet of said carrier pipe, in terms of the direction of flow of the carrier liquid from supply, for arresting back flow of liquid in said pipe.

2. An injector as set forth in claim 1, and in which said receptacle has a substantially horizontal bottom and a substantially vertical sidewall, and said bleed outlet is through a bleed extension of said carrier liquid pipe, the extension discharging substantially horizontally in close proximity to the inner. face ofithereceptaclesbottom and across said bottom toward the sidewall of said receptacle for sweeping said bottom using the sidewall for a bafile.

3. An injector for dispensing liquid fertilizer, insecticide, herbicide or other injecting liquid to a carrier liquid,

comprising an hermetically closed receptacle for reserving amounts of injecting liquid in standing column and having an access opening and cover for said opening at the top, a carrier liquid pipe having a substantially vertical input portion extending into said receptacle through said top and downward inside and having a substantially horizontal portion extending across the receptacle bottom and through the sidewall of said receptacle for output, a vacuum breaker responsive to pressure drop connected with the substantially vertical input portion of said carrier liquid pipe for arresting back flow of liquid in said pipe, said horizontal portion of the carrier liquid pipe portion being spaced a short distance upward from the receptacle bottom, a bleed outlet from said carrier liquid pipe emptying beneath said horizontal pipe portion and across said bottom in close proximity to the inner face thereof toward the sidewall of said receptacle for sweeping said bottom using the sidewall for a baflle and for bleeding quantities of carrier liquid into the injecting material to the point of static balance being reached across said bleed outlet, an injecting liquid outlet standpipe connected into the horizontal portion of said carrier liquid pipe and having an inlet port, said inlet port being disposed at the heighth of the column of injecting liquid to be reserved and favoring the feed of injecting liquid above said reserved column downwardly through said standpipe to the carrier liquid, and a constriction in the horizontal portion of said carrier liquid pipe for locally increasing the velocity head of the carrier liquid and decreasing the pressure head thereof at the discharge end of said standpipe thus permitting flow and entrainment of the injecting liquid from said standpipe in accordance with excesses produced by fluid entering through said bleed outlet.

4. An injector for dispensing liquid fertilizer, insecticide, herbicide or other injecting liquid to a carrier liquid, comprising a receptaclefor reserving amounts of the injecting liquid in standing column, said receptacle having an access opening and a removable cover for said opening, a carrier liquid pipe extending through said receptacle, clearing the inner face of the bottom of the latter and having a portion adjacent to said face, an injecting liquid outlet standpipe inside said receptacle and connected into the portion of the carrier liquid pipe said to be adjacent to the inner face of the receptacle bottom, said standpipe having an inlet below the removable cover of said receptacle and disposed at the heighth of the column of injecting liquid to be reserved and favoring the feed of injecting liquid above said reserved column downwardly through said standpipe to the carrier liquid, a one-way check valve in said standpipe favoring the feed of injecting liquid into said carrier liquid, a constriction in the carrier liquid pipe for locally increasing the velocity head of the carrier liquid and decreasing the pressure head thereof at the discharge end of said standpipe thus promoting flow of injecting liquid past said check valve and entrainment thereof in said carrier liquid, and said carrier liquid pipe having a bleed outlet emptying beneath said pipe portion in close proximity to the inner face of the receptacle bottom and across said bottom toward sidewall of said receptacle for sweeping said bottom using the sidewall for a bafile and for bleeding quantities of carrier liquid into the reserved standing column of the liquid material in replacement of those quantities of injecting liquid drawn off and entrained and said carrier liquid pipe having a vacuum breaker responsive to pressure drop in the path of carrier liquid supply to said receptacle behind said bleed outlet and standpipe discharge end.

(References on following page) 7 8 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,239,502 Gleason Apr. 22, 1941 2,527,750 MacFee Oct. 31, 1950 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,680,044 Smith June 1, 1954 1,736,969 Greiser Nov. 26, 1929 2,683,622 Dragon July 13, 1954 1,748,488 McCabe Feb. 25, 1930 5 2,724,583 Targosh NOV. 22, 1955 

